Chapter 37: Fighting for Dignity, Not Steamed Buns

By the time the banquet ended, it was nearly 10 PM.

They didn't run into Li Chenghui on their way out, so Li Dong didn't know if he had already left or was still eating. However, Li Dong didn't care to find out.

Li Chengyuan was in high spirits today, having drunk a bit too much. Li Dong and Cao Fang supported him on either side as they made their way home.

The evening breeze had refreshed Li Chengyuan quite a bit.

He patted Li Dong on the shoulder and said with a hint of emotion, "You've grown so much in the blink of an eye. Today, you've made me proud. It's been years since I've had the chance to hold my head high."

"Your father isn't much use; he hasn't managed to provide a good life for you all. Whether your uncle respects me or not is our generation's problem. As a junior, you shouldn't argue with him. Just go along with what he says. Anyway, we don't see him often throughout the year."

Li Dong was not pleased with this and retorted, "Aren't Li Nanming and Li Qing also juniors? I've never seen them treat you as an elder. Over the years, I haven't heard them call you 'Second Uncle' once!"

Pausing, Li Dong continued, "Besides, we don't need to seek anything from him. Even if we did, we wouldn't get it. Why should we bow down to him?"

"For so many years, he's made a fortune in the city, and our family hasn't benefited in the least! It's not that we need to take advantage of him. We can support ourselves without relying on others! But when you visit him in the city, even though his gifts are not worth much, at least the gesture counts. Yet, he didn't even offer you a meal. How can such a person be called an elder?"

The more he spoke, the angrier Li Dong became. He said angrily, "Let's not even mention his whole family. They are all bad people, looking down on the poor. I'll just consider that I don't have such relatives!"

Li Chengyuan fell silent, and Cao Fang didn't speak up either; she couldn't say much about the conflicts between the Li brothers.

But it was a fact that Li Chenghui's family looked down on them, and even Li Chenghui's children showed disdain and suspicion when they saw Li Chengyuan, afraid he would come to ask for something.

The family of three walked home in silence.

When they reached the bottom of the apartment building, Li Chengyuan sent Cao Fang upstairs first.

He then sighed to Li Dong, "I know what kind of person your uncle is, but he is still my elder brother. If you really don't like him, fine. But he is still my elder brother, and I have to visit him during festivals and holidays."

Li Chengyuan's parents had died young, leaving only this one brother. Although Li Chenghui looked down on him, he couldn't completely ignore him.

Li Dong didn't speak. With his father saying this, what could he say?

The father and son fell silent.

After a while, Li Dong finally spoke, "Dad, don't worry. We're fighting for dignity, not for steamed buns. With me around, no one will dare look down on you in the future!"

Li Chengyuan was stunned for a moment, then smiled wryly, "You rascal, I'm waiting for you to make me proud. Don't just talk big."

Seeing his father's teasing expression, Li Dong gritted his teeth and said, "Dad, if he looks down on us just because he has some money, I have more money than him. Doesn't that count as fighting for dignity?"

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Focus on your studies. Money matters are still up to your father and me…"

"Dad, you don't believe me?"

Li Dong had planned to bring this up with his parents at some point, and today seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Otherwise, when he went to school and his parents continued running their stall, they might fall back into their old ways, and Li Dong didn't want to go through that again.

"Dad, do you know how much Li Chenghui is worth? A million? Two million? Or three million?"

At this time, Li Chenghui wasn't as wealthy as he would later become. His net worth was at most two or three million.

Seeing his father frown, Li Dong continued, "Dad, do you know how much the Yuanfang Supermarket on North Street is worth?"

Li Chengyuan had trouble following his son's train of thought, wondering why the conversation had shifted to the supermarket.

"Dongzi, we don't need to compare with others…"

Li Chengyuan wanted to comfort his son, fearing he was upset, but before he could finish, Li Dong interrupted.

"Dad, I'm serious. Do you know how much Yuanfang Supermarket is worth?"

Without waiting for his father's response, Li Dong continued, "Not counting the supermarket itself, just the mall alone is worth four to five million. And with property prices rising, in a few years, it could be worth ten million or more."

Li Dong took a breath and added, "Also, do you know how profitable the supermarket is?"

"At least one million in net profit each month, which adds up to tens of millions a year! Even if business slows down in a few years, making a few million a year is still no problem."

"Running a supermarket is so profitable?"

Li Chengyuan knew the supermarket business was good, but he didn't realize the profit was so high.

Li Dong was exasperated. The momentum he had built up was suddenly interrupted. He said in frustration, "Dad, I'm not talking about how much money it makes."

"What exactly are you trying to say? I'm completely confused."

Li Chengyuan was also puzzled. He hadn't seen how much his son had drunk, but his speech seemed disjointed.

"What I'm saying is, all of this is mine—your son's! Yuanfang Supermarket, the mall—these are all mine!" Li Dong raised his voice, his face full of pride.

All of this belonged to him. In just three or four months since his rebirth, he had accumulated such a large fortune. Wasn't it worth being proud of?

Li Chengyuan touched Li Dong's head and murmured, "Talking nonsense. You haven't drunk much…"

"Dad!"

Li Dong shouted in frustration and stopped explaining. He hurriedly pulled his father upstairs.

...

Cao Fang was tidying up when she saw the father and son come in, with Li Dong looking annoyed. She immediately scolded, "What's wrong? After a few drinks, you get confused? You don't like your uncle, and neither do I, but can't we say a few words?"

Li Chengyuan looked gloomy and said irritably, "Stop talking! It has nothing to do with him. Your son got drunk and made a fuss!"

"I'm not confused. Just wait!"

Li Dong didn't say much. He went to his room and pulled out the property certificates he had hidden behind the bookcase.

Li Chengyuan was quietly explaining something to Cao Fang in the living room.

When Li Dong came out, he heard Li Chengyuan sighing, "My son was stimulated today. He keeps saying the Yuanfang Supermarket on North Street and the three-story building are his…"

Before he could finish, Li Dong slammed the property certificates onto the coffee table.

Li Chengyuan was puzzled. Cao Fang picked up the property certificates and looked through them, then was stunned. "Son, where did you get this? Forging certificates is illegal!"

"It's real! I told you, Yuanfang Supermarket is mine. The mall is mine. Your son has money now. By the end of the year, my net worth will definitely exceed ten million!"

...

Li Dong explained for over half an hour, but Li Chengyuan and Cao Fang were still in a daze.

Li Dong was a bit discouraged. Yesterday, Qin Yuhan didn't believe him, and today, neither did his parents. Did he not look like a boss?

Li Dong talked until his throat was dry. He took a sip of tea and said, "If you still don't believe me, I have no choice. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the supermarket. From now on, we'll close the stall."

Cao Fang had heard enough details from Li Dong, including how the capital came from selling lobsters. She had started to believe it.

But she still found it hard to accept that her usually mischievous son had such a big business.

When she heard that Li Dong wanted to close the stall, she became anxious. "That's not possible. What about your tuition…"

Alright, it was hard to argue about tuition fees when her son had already made millions. Wasn't it a bit late to worry about it now?

Li Chengyuan was still lost in thought, seemingly not hearing Cao Fang and Li Dong.

Li Dong waved his hand in front of his father's eyes. Seeing no reaction, he shook him and said, "Dad, are you alright?"

When Li Chengyuan snapped back to reality, he opened his mouth and finally spoke, "So, I'm now the father of a millionaire?"

Li Dong didn't expect his father to come up with this after thinking for so long and found it a bit amusing.

Seeing his father was okay, he replied, "Yes, you're now the father of a millionaire, and soon you'll be the father of a billionaire!"

"Feels

 like a dream." Li Chengyuan murmured and then turned to Cao Fang, "Fangzi, after so many years, how much have we saved?"

"Sixty-four thousand!"

Cao Fang answered without thinking. She checked the family savings almost every night to reassure herself.

After hearing this, Li Chengyuan felt disheartened. "So, after all these years, it's still not worth what he earns in a day."

His pride was hurt. Hearing Li Dong say that the supermarket now earned at least seventy to eighty thousand a day, Li Chengyuan didn't even know what to say.

Not knowing what else to think, Li Chengyuan patted Li Dong on the head, applying more force than usual. After a while, he finally showed a wide smile.

Li Dong grinned, relieved to see his father smile.

Cao Fang and Li Chengyuan had been together for so many years, so she understood his thoughts.

Seeing that he had accepted it, she said with mock anger, "Aren't you happy that your son has succeeded? Must you be like this to be happy?"

"Of course I'm happy. I'm just too happy!"

Li Chengyuan grinned and patted Li Dong on the head, laughing heartily, "This kid quietly built such a big business. I'm so happy I'm at a loss for words."

He continued to mumble, "How did he become so capable? Did he inherit it from me?"

Li Dong and Cao Fang couldn't help but laugh, but they didn't interrupt Li Chengyuan's musings.